COMIC LOVE: An Ode to Catman

CatmanHeader

Oh, Catman.

If you were hoping this week’s entry was going to be a font of philosophical pondering, turn back now. My love of Thomas Blake, the man of the yellow and orange, is not rational, ethical or even natural. It even makes my husband nervous. Sure, it’s pretty unlikely the actual Catman will ever spontaneously erupt from the comic page into three-dimensional life, but that slim cosmological chance already has my brain burning with possibility.

And with yesterday’s announcement that this hunk of a comic book character will be returning to the pages of DC Comics on December 3 (just a few days shy of my birthday. Coincidence?), there seems like no better time than now to share all the love I have for him.

If you don’t know his back story, buckle up, lean back, and feel the G’s. Catman is a minor Batman villain, created in 1963, who rose from obscurity to join the Secret Six, a misfit band of anti-heroes and mercenaries. A laughingstock before then, Catman has since become, under the pen of the mighty Gail Simone, a fierce Tarzan-like figure, highly intelligent (if not wise) and exhibiting great prowess in combat and hunting. He’s as primal a figure in mainstream comics as you can get.

Sure, he’s not Batman. He’s neither on the side of angels nor devils, not the big name at the marquee or the guy who gets the happy ending. But anytime he appears on the page, I’m there. Why, you ask? Let me tell you.

He’s frequently naked. Just getting that out of the way.

Catman1

Nicola Scott

He probably can’t win against Batman, but that doesn’t stop him from trying.

Catman2

Nicola Scott

He has a great bromance going with Deadshot.

Catman3

Jim Calafiore

He’s not afraid to look goofy. (Hee-hee “Maneaters.” Oh, Robin!)

Catman4

Dick Dillin

He can carry a loincloth like nobody’s business.

Catman5

Jim Calafiore

He has some serious daddy issues.

Catman6

Jim Calafiore

Did I mention he’s frequently naked?

Catman7

Jim Calafiore

He used to be fat. Now he’s not. It gives me hope.

Catman8

Phil Hester

He’s bisexual…

Catman9

Nicola Scott

…and an animal lover.

Catman10

Dale Eaglesham

He can be super scary when he wants to be.

Catman11

Jim Calafiore

Ahem. Naked.

Catman12

Nicola Scott

 

Lest you think, fair reader, that I am unusually obsessed and singular in my adoration of the man with the little cat ears, I leave you with proof of my camaraderie among other Catman fans. If nothing else, let this be a lesson that every character has the potential to be someone’s favorite, and there’s potential in every character to be great, no matter how dumb he or she may seem at first. Or second. Or third.

Naked.

 

Williams

David Williams, Karl Story, and Tom McCraw from Who’s Who in the DC Universe

Stephen Sadowski

Stephen Sadowski

FairlyOddparents

The Fairly Oddparents television show

Greg_Gentile

Greg Gentile as Catman, DragonCon 2012

Jamal_Igle

Jamal Igle

Jim_Califiore

Jim Calafiore

Nicola Scott

Dale Eaglesham

Dale Eaglesham

NicolaScott2

Nicola Scott

NYCCCosplay

Cosplay from New York Comicon 2012

Renato_Guedes

Renato Guedes

Art Adams, from Who's Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe

Art Adams, from Who’s Who: The Definitive Guide to the DC Universe

Batman: Legacy series 2 Catman action figure

Batman: Legacy series 2 Catman action figure

 

And art from my own collection!

Brett Booth

Brett Booth

Tim Seeley

Tim Seeley

Kurt Wood

Art Baltazar

Art Baltazar

 

This article was originally written for and published online by the Idler Magazine, March 2013.

 

Authors

Related posts

One Comment;

Top